Electrical conduit



Sept. 29, 1931. D. H. MURPHY ELECTRICAL CONDUIT Filed Feb. 14, 1931 Patented Sept. 29, 19431 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANII HAYES MURPHY. 0F WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE 'WIRE'IOLD COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION Ol' O0N- NECTICU T ,ELEcmcaL commu Application Med flebruary 14, 1831. Serial No. 515,737.`

This invention relates to a surface conduit for electric wires which is particularly designed to be located close to moldings, or cornices, or in corners, in such manner that it conforms to the architecture of the interior of a room and forms an attractive trim, being especially desirable in homes and oiiices where the ordinary conduit would be objectionable as too conspicuous.

The object of the invention is to rovide a conduit of the character mentione which is not only cheap to manufacture in quantities and which will inconspicuousl blend with the decorations of a room or which will be very easy to install in such manner that the fastening means will be 1nvisible. l

In attaining this end the embodiment of the invention illustrated has a base strip of indefinite length with sides extending at right angles to each other and having throughout their length longitudinally extending grooves near their edges. Applied to this base is a cover strip of indefinite length that is outwardly bowed in cross section vand has its edges bent in to approximately ninety degrees with relation to each other and at such distances apart that they willslip over and engage with the edges of the base strip for holding the parts together.

Angular fittings are provided for corners, which ittings have bowed caps and angular base pieces provided with ton ues that are designed to engage the ends o the running lengths of the conduit. Angularclips are provided for securing the running lengths in place. l These clips are permanently1 fastened to the supporting surface and they ave their edges bent inward in such manner that when a length of conduit is snapped into the clips the edges of the clips will enter the grooves in the base strip and hold the lengths in place.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 on reduced scale indicates a use of a conduit constructed accordin to this invention. Fig. 2 shows on enlar e scale a transverse section on the plane in icated by the dotted line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a holding clip. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of an end of the base strip. Fig. t is a per oe, butspective view of an end of the cover. Fig. 6 is a transverse section'through a fitting on the plane indicated -by the dotted line 6-6 on Fig. 1'. Figi 7 is a plan view of the base piece of a fitting. Fig. l8 is a side View of the fitting base piece. Fig. 9 is an end view of the base piece. 1- Fig. 10 is a view of an end of a fitting cap. Fi 11 is a transverse section showing a means w ich may be used for holding a fitting cap in' place. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of au end of a cover of modified section.

The basestrips of the running lengths of the conduit are desirably rolled from sheet metal in such manner that their sides 1 and 2 are at substantially right angles to each their entire length. The cover strips of the runnin lengths of the conduit are preferably rolled rom sheet metal" in such manner that the middle portion 5 is outwardly bowed with a curved contour as seen in Fig. 5, or angular contour as shown by Fig. 12, and the edges 6 and 7 are bent inward so that they will overlap the edges of the base strip. These members are made in any convenient lengths and usually are assembled at the place of manufacture by sliding the cover strips lengthwise on the base strips.

The clips for securing the running lengths in place of use are bent from sheet metal with sides 8 and 9 that are at substantially right angles to each other and that have their' and 11 will snap into the grooves 3 and 4 the base strip and thus firmly hold the run-.l ning lengths in place without being exposed vThe corner fittings which may be made as internal elbows 13 or external elbows 14 have angular base pieces with sides 15 and 16'bent at right angles to each other and 'with the me y edges 17 and 18 of the sides bent inward. Extendiner from both side walls of the angular base piece at both ends are tongues 19 which are slightly inset. These tongues are designed to be slipped between the sides of the base strip and the inwardly bent edges 6 and -7 of the cover for attaching these members place. In Fig. 11 there is shown for this purpose a spring 22 on the inside of the cap with its ends engaged with the inturned edges of the base piece.

lVhen the parts are assembled and fastened'in position a conduit is provided which closely fits into a corner and is firmly secured in position by concealed means without anyy obstruction in the runway through the conduit.

The invention claimed is:

1. A surface conduit for electrical con- -ductors comprising a base strip having two walls that are at right angles to each other and are provided near' the edges with outwardly opening grooves which extendl longitudinally thereof, and a bowed cover strip that has its edges bent inward therefrom and overlying the edges of the base strip.

2. A surface conduit for electrical conductors comprising a base strip having two walls that are at right angles to each other and are provided near the edges with outwardly opening grooves which extend longitudinally therof, and a cover strip that has a curved middle section and longitudinally extending grooves along its edges that embrace the edges of the base strip.

3. A surface conduit installation comprising a base strip having two walls that are at rightangles to each other and are provided near the edges with outwardly opening grooves which extend longitudinally thereof, a cover strip that has a curved middle section and edges bent inward therefrom and embracing the edges of the base strip, and a clip having two walls that are at right angles to each other and have inwardly bent edges that are adapted to spring into the longitudinal grooves in said base strip.

4. A surface conduit installation comprising a base strip having two walls that are at right angles to each other and are provided near the edges with outwardly openin grooves which extend longitudinally thereo a cover strip that has edges bent inward therefrom and embracing the edges of the base strip, and a clip havlng two walls which are at substantially right angles to each other and have inwardly bent ed es that are ada ted to sprin into the longitudinally exten ing grooves 1n said base strip.

5. A surface conduit installation comprising a base strip having two Walls that are at right angles to each other and are provided near the edges with outwardly openin grooves which extend longitudinally thereo a cover strip that has an angular middle section and edges bent inward therefrom and embracing the edges of the base strip, and a cl1 having two walls which are at substantia ly right angles to each other and have inwardly bent edges that are adapted to spring into the longitudinal grooves in said base strip.

6. A surface conduit for electrical con-v ductors comprising running lengths which have a base strip with two walls that are at right angles Ato each other and are provided near the edges with outwardl openin grooves which extend longitudinally thereo and a cover strip that has a curved middle section with edges bent inward therefrom and overlying the edges of the base strip, and an angular section which has two walls that are at right angles with each other and lhave tongues extending from the ends thereof into the ends of said running lengths, with a capI fastened to said angular section and overlapping the covers of the running lengths of the conduit.

7. A surface conduit for electrical conductors comprising a base strip having two walls that are at right angles to each other and are provided near the edges with outwardly opening Grooves which extend longitudinally thereo a cover strip that has a. curved middle section and edges bent inward therefrom and embracing the edges of the base strip, a section having two Walls that are at right angles with each other and have their edges bent inward, a tongue extending from the end of said section and entered between the sides of said base strip and inwardly bent edges of said cover, and a cap applied to said section and overlapping said cover.

DANIEL HAYES MURPHY. 

